Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Amidst the discourse on the economic crisis the drugs crisis has been forgotten. It would be wrong for that to happen given the new report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. It is a stark reminder of how serious Ireland's drug problem is and the horrific consequences of the failures of successive Governments to make sufficient funding available. The report should serve as a wake-up call to the Government and all Members of this House of this crisis.

Comparative research by the European centre found Ireland has the worst heroin problem, the second worst ecstasy problem and the third worst cocaine problem in the whole of Europe. We also have the second highest rate of drug induced deaths. At 70 deaths per million the figure is more than three times the EU average.

That amounts to almost one death per day. Moreover, it is most likely an underestimation.

These statistics clearly demonstrate the need to afford greater resources to drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation projects rather than reducing them. Chronic underfunding has historically been a feature of the State's response to the drugs crisis. Despite this, drugs services have already been subject to disproportionate cuts since the beginning of the recession. It is not just the Fianna Fáil Government which is responsible for these disproportionate cuts; the current Government is also introducing cuts in these areas. Health Service Executive funding for numerous drugs projects in Dublin has been reduced by 5% for the final quarter of this year, with a promise of further reductions next year. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, has made a complaint to the HSE in this regard. That is not good enough.

The Government must take ownership of and drive forward the State's response to the drugs crisis. The former Minister of State, Deputy Willie Penrose, resigned his office because of the closure of a local Army barracks. I am talking about the avoidable deaths of more than 300 people per year. Does the Minister stand over the 5% cut already imposed by the HSE this year? What action will he take to ensure there are no further cuts? Schemes which have experienced cutbacks include the Inchicore needle exchange, which was shut down last year, and the Rialto early morning methadone clinic. Services such as these save lives and aid rehabilitation by facilitating participation in education and work. By doing so, they also save the Government money.

Reductions in these services will lead to higher rates of drug abuse and a higher incidence of mortality. The Government is putting great effort into convincing the public that cuts to essential services are necessary and that there is no alternative. That is not the case. I urge the Minister to examine the alternative set out in Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission, which we presented to Government yesterday. It clearly shows that front line services can be protected and that there is an alternative. There must be a greater urgency in addressing the drugs crisis.

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